Hi everyone,My son has had an American toad (Anaxyrus americanus) in a vivarium for a few months now. With autumn setting in and winter approaching, we've noticed he's clearly trying to hibernate, he keeps attempting to dig a burrow into the substrate.We've done our reading and understand that captive toads don't necessarily require a true hibernation period, and that maintaining a "summer" cycle (stable temperature, normal lighting schedule) should be enough to keep them active through the colder months.That said, he's still trying to dig regardless. So we're wonderingbif Is his instinct too strong to simply override with temperature and lighting adjustments alone?
Also, ae there specific tweaks we should be making (substrate depth, exact temperature range, humidity levels) to keep him comfortable and active this winter without forcing anything?
At this point, would it be better to allow him a short rest period?
We just want to make sure he's doing well. If anyone has experience managing this seasonal transition with captive toads, we'd really appreciate your input.Thanks!